The Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration (JD/MPA) dual degree program prepares students to work at the junction of these two complementary fields.
The JD/MPA program is intended for legal professionals who are drawn to matters of public governance or nonprofit administration. Graduates will give voice to their constituents and have the capacity to assess the legal issues affecting their communities.
JD/MPA Admissions
Interested applicants must first be accepted into the College of Law and Public Service. Once accepted, JD students can express their intent to pursue a dual degree. Applicants must meet the admission standards of each degree program and should check with each College for specific entrance requirements. Visit the College of Law and Public Service Admissions page for more information.
JD/MPA Curriculum
Nine units of elective coursework in the master’s program counts towards JD elective requirements, and twelve units of the JD elective coursework counts towards the master’s degree elective requirements.
JD Curriculum
The JD curriculum consists of 88 total semester units. The first year places emphasis on the values and skills necessary for success in law school and in the legal profession;. The foundational doctrinal courses include:
- Contract Law;
- Civil Procedure;
- Real Property; and
- Constitutional Law.
Torts and Criminal Law are also explored in the first year. In the second year, law students develop practical skills through the Litigation Track and the Transactional Law Track in addition to up to 14 units of electives. In the third year of the JD program, the emphasis is placed on experiential learning—including externships, live-client clinics, and practicums.
Visit the JD Program page, explore all JD course offerings, or view all available JD elective courses.
MPA Curriculum
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program curriculum is comprised of 39 semester hours, including 27 semester hours of core courses.
The core MPA courses are:
- Public Administration and Society;
- Public Management and Leadership;
- Organizational Theory and Development;
- Policy Formation;
- Budgeting and Fiscal Management;
- Ethics in Administration;
- Legal Environment of Public Administration;
- Quantitative Methods for Public Management; and
- Graduate Seminar.
The MPA program offers degree specializations in Urban Management and Affairs, Nonprofit Administration, Gerontology, and Public Health.
Visit the MPA Program page and/or the MPA curriculum page for more information.
Learn more about the JD/MPA Dual Degree Program!
Earn a JD/MPA dual degree and cultivate a transformative career in public service from two unique vantage points. Ready to get started? Request more information today.